Fishing-tackle.



PATENTED FEB. 121907.

J. B. HARRIS. FISHING TACKLE.

APPLIOATION IILED NOV. 80. 1906.-

f/VVE/VTOR.

A TYTOR/VE 1 5 JOSEPH B. HAJEQRISJOFHBRAESON, MISSOURI.

FISHING-TACKLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 12, 1907.

Application filed November 30, 1906. Serial No. 345,735.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH B. HARRIS, a 1 citizen oi the United States, residing at l Branson, in the county of Taney and State 1 of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Fishing-Tackle, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to suspension devices for supporting fish-hooks on trot-lines and the like, and has for its object to provide a comparatively simple and inexpensive device of this character by means of which the hooks may be quickly attached to or detached from the trot-line.

A further object of the invention is to provide a suspension device or coupling having oppositely-disposed loops for engagement with the trot-line and fish-hook, respectively, and provided with a locking member adapted to engage the line for locking the coupling in position in said line.

A still further object of the invention is to generally improve this class of devices, so as to increase their utility, durability, and efliciency, as well as to reduce the cost of manufacture.

ith these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that various changes in form, proportions, and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a trot-line provided with one or more suspension devices or couplings constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view ofone of the couplings or suspension devices at- 1 tached. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the coupling, showing the manner of attaching the coupling to and removing the same from the trot-line.

Similar numerals of reference indicate cori responding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

The improved device is I principally designed for attaching fish-hooks to trot-lines and the like, and, by way of illustration, is shown in position on a trot-line of the ordinary construction, in which 5 designates the 5 line, and 6 the hook.

The suspension device or coupling is preferably formed of a single piece of wire or other suitable material, one end of which is bent to form an elongated loop 7, adapted to receive the trot-line 5, the end of the wire forming the loop 7 being coiled around the standard 'or body portion 8, as indicated at 9. The lower end of the wire forming the standard 8 is twisted to form an eye 10, adapted to receive a flexible loop 11, the end of the Wire after the eye 10 is formed being coiled around the standard 8 and thence bent laterally to form an angular arm 12, terminating in the vertically-disposed spring locking-tongue 13, which latter extends across and beyond the loop 7 for engagement with the trot-line 5.

In placing the suspension device or coup ling in position on the trot-line a loop 14 is formed in the line and the latter inserted through the loop 7 and passed upwardly and over the free end of the locking member 13, after which a longitudinal pull is exerted on the line 5, thus causing the intermediate portion of the loop to bear against the adjacent end of the tongue 13 and effectually prevent accidental displacement of the suspension device.

It will of course be understood that when the loop 14 of the line is introduced in the loop 7 said line will press the tongue 13 laterally, so as to permit the passage of theline, and thus allow the latter to be positioned over the tongue and forced in engagement therewith when a longitudinal pull is exerted on the trot-line. In order to remove the line, it is merely necessary to grasp the line at the loop 7 and elevate the same, so that the latter will clear the free end of the tongue 13, and in which position the line may be readily withdrawn from the loop.

While the device is principally designed for use in connection with trot-lines, it will of course be understood that the same may be used with equally good results on ordinary fish-lines or wherever a device of this character is found desirable.

Having thus described the invention, what claimed is 1. The combination with a supporting member, of a suspension device having means at one end thereof for the reception of the supporting member and provided at its opposite end with hook, and a locking member adapted to engage the supporting member.

2. The combination with a supporting member, of a suspension device having means for attaching a fishmeans at one end thereof for the reception of the supporting member and provided at its opposite end with means for attaching a fishhook, and a locking member forming a part of the suspension device and adapted to engage the supporting member.

3. The combination with a trot-line, of a suspension device having means at one end thereof for the reception of the trot-line and provided at its opposite end with means for attaching a fish-hook, and a locking member forming a part of the suspension device and extending transversely across the line-engaging means for engagement with said line.

4. The combination with a supporting member, .of a suspension device having a loop at one end thereof for the reception of the supporting member and provided at its opposite end with means for attaching a fishhook, 1 and a locking member forming a part of the suspension device and extending transversely across the loop for engagement with the supporting member.

5. The combination with a supporting member, of a suspension device having a loop at one end thereof for the reception of the supporting member and provided at its opposite end with an eye for attaching a fishf hook, and a locking-tongue forming a part of the suspension device and having one end thereof extended across the loop for engagement with .the supporting member.

6. A suspension device including a body portion having means at its opposite ends for attaching a supporting member, and hook, 3 5

respectively, and a locking member forming a part of the suspension device and adapted to engage the supporting member.

7. A suspension device comprising a body portion having one end thereof bent to form a terminal loop and its opposite end provided with an eye, there being a locking-tongue ex tending laterally from the body portion at said eye and having its free end extended across the loop.

8. A suspension device formed of a single piece of wire having one end thereof bent to form a loop and thence extended to form a shank terminating in an eye, the wire forming the eye being extended in the direction of the loop to form a locking-tongue.

9. A suspension device formed of a single piece of wire one end of which is bent to form a loop, and tl'ienceextended to form a shank terminating in an eye, the end of thewi're forming the eye being twisted around the shank and thence extended laterally and-in the direction of the loop to form a locking-tongue the free end of which is extended across and beyond said loop.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH B. HARRIS.

l/Vitnesses:

M. F. WILsoN, M. H. MGHENRY. 

